He missed his shot at Olympic gold, his football career was sidelined by injuries. He has dabbled in modeling and TV presenting. Now, the golden boy may have finally found his footing, in what once would have seemed an unlikely arena: entrepreneurship.

When the nail-polish making duo Ginger Johnson and Liz Pickett began their production efforts, finding the right vendors to work with was easier said than done. Here's why having a plan B can mean all the difference.